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This article describes the experience and success of SHAP, which was launched in 1981 by a group of unemployed Soweto paraplegics. They decided to operate a factory employing only disabled people, doing work on a subcontract basis for industry. By 1989 the factory employed 130 disabled people. Internet publication URL: www.independentliving.org/toolsforpower/tools31.html

Vic Finkelstein reports on his harrowing experience with South African police, not because he is black, but because he is disabled. Internet publication URL: www.independentliving.org/docs1/finkelstein2.html

A young Afghan who was born blind in a remote village tells of his childhood and how he gained the skills to take part in community life and later to earn his living in a town. Internet publication URL: www.independentliving.org/docs3/milesm1988a.html

Service brokerage has a commitment to a set of values emphasizing the worth and dignity of individuals with disabilites and their right to live in the community. Internet publication URL: www.independentliving.org/toolsforpower/tools27.html

Early in the movement, persons with physical disabilities wanted to be viewed as competent, self-directed, and capable of managing their own lives. Persons whose capacity for self-direction had been compromised threatened that image of competence. Internet publication URL: www.independentliving.org/toolsforpower/tools3c.html

Within the community of disabled persons in this country there is a division between those concerned with civil rights and those concerned with service delivery. Internet publication URL: www.independentliving.org/toolsforpower/tools3b.html

Service brokerage has a commitment to a set of values emphasizing the worth and dignity of individuals with disabilites and their right to live in the community. Internet publikation URL: www.independentliving.org/toolsforpower/tools27sv.html (In Swedish.)

This portion of the report of the Third International Expert Seminar on Building Non-Handicapping Environments: Accessibility Issues in Developing Countries held in Tokyo in 1988, includes: a table of contents with links to individual presentations; a preface by the editor of the report, Adolf D. Ratzka, Ph.D., outlining the concepts of accessibility and Independent Living; a presentation of the organizers of the seminar; and opening statements by Dr. Yasumi Yoshitake, Chairman of the Executive Committee, Architectural Institute of Japan, by Professor Sven Thiberg, the CIB W84 Coordinator, and by Dr. Mickey Milner, Immediate Past Chairman of ICTA, International Commission on Technical Aids, Building and Transportation. Internet publication URL: www.independentliving.org/cib/cibtokyo1.html

Yukiko Oka analyses the results of an ESCAP questionnaire which covers institutionalization, community-based rehabilitation, and the rights of people with disabilities. Internet publication URL: www.independentliving.org/docs4/oka.html

An introduction to personal assistance for people with disabilities, including definitions and dozens of practical questions with straight-forward answers. Internet publication URLs: www.independentliving.org/docs4/bracking98.html and www.independentliving.org/docs4/bracking98.pdf.

The primary goal of this paper by Harlan Hahn of the University of Southern California is to examine crucial areas of agreement and disagreement about the "minority group model" (views prejudice and discrimination as the major issues confronting citizens with disabilities) both within and between disabled and nondisabled segments of the population, and to develop a case for the benefits that can be derived from policies founded on a socio-political understanding of disability. Internet publication URL: www.independentliving.org/docs4/hahn.html

Why is disability culture a crucial component of the disability rights movement? The question is addressed by Finkelstein, a psychologist by training, tutor in Disability Studies at the Open University and Visiting Senior Research Fellow in the Centre for Disability Studies, Leeds University. Finkelstein has a disability. Internet publication URL: www.independentliving.org/docs3/finkelstein87a.html

This portion of the report of the Second International Expert Seminar on Building Non-Handicapping Environments: Renewal of Inner Cities held in Prague in 1987, includes: a table of contents with links to individual presentations; an introduction of the history and future directions of CIB W84 (the working commission) by Sven Thiberg the seminar Coordinator and Adolf D. Ratzka, the Associate Coordinator; a note on language used; the opening address by Dr. Rudolf Hegenbart; and an introduction to the themes of the seminar by Adolf D. Ratzka. Internet publication URL: www.independentliving.org/cib/cibprague1.html

A project was developed at Peshawar, Pakistan, for learning the components and processes of making cheap, basic items of everyday life and offering these to disabled young people as small-scale crafts to practise at home and to sell locally. The crafts are economically marginal, with earnings insufficient for self-support, yet they can make a financial contribution to the family budget. This changes the disabled person's role and can lift self-esteem and initiate improved attitudes, while remaining within local capacities and ecology. An earlier version of this paper appeared in the African Rehabilitation Journal (1987) Vol. 2 (10) 13-14. Internet publication URL: www.independentliving.org/docs3/milesm1987a.html

On April 5, 1977, thousands of disabled people in cities all over America converged on their regional offices of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. They wanted implementation of regulations that would add significant impact to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Michael Ervin presents the reflections of three people who were involved in the actions the author deems to be the most significant event in the history of the disability rights movement. Internet publication URL: www.independentliving.org/docs4/ervin1986.html

Diane Driedger and April D'Aubin, residents of Winnipeg, and involved with the Winnipeg Independent Living Resource Centre, present a history of Independent Living, Canadian initiatives, and step by step instructions on how to form an Independent Living Centre using the Winnipeg Independent Living Resource Centre as a case study. Internet publication URL: www.independentliving.org/docs5/driedger-wpg1.html

The purpose of this study is to examine the values contained in three major definitions of disability, to examine the policy implications of each of these definitions, and to appraise the extent to which research in various disciplines of the social sciences has facilitated or impeded the development of a new conceptualization of the issue. Internet publication URL: www.independentliving.org/docs4/hahn2.html

People First is a self-advocacy organization operated by and for people with mental (intellectual) handicaps, with help from non-voting, non-disabled advisors. People First philosophy envisages a time when local chapters can function without full-time advisors, using only temporary help as needed. Curtis describes qualities of "good" advisors who are able to give leadership without taking control and problems which may arise with advisors from agency/institution staffs, who often hold traditional views and may be overprotective. Internet publication URL: www.independentliving.org/toolsforpower/tools29.html

Judith E. Heumann explains what the Independent Living Movement is and what Independent Living Centres and how large numbers of other elderly disabled people could benefit greatly from services delivered by Independent Living centers. The World Institute on Disability's objectives in this regard are to work with appropriate organizations to raise awareness about aging and disability and to recommend policies which support elderly persons with disabilities. Internet publication URL: www.independentliving.org/toolsforpower/tools28.html

CIB is the abbreviation of the French title of the International council for Building Research, Studies and Documentation. This portion of the report of the International Expert Seminar on Building Concept for the Handicapped in Stockholm in 1984 includes: a table of contents with links to individual presentations; and presentations by Mr. Bengt Lindqvist, Member of the Swedish Parliament, Chairman of the Central Committee of Organizations of the Disabled in Sweden, and by Professor Sven Thiberg, coordinating chairman of CIB/W 84 (the working commission). Internet publication URL: www.independentliving.org/cib/cibsthlm1.html

In 1983 The General Conference of the International Labour Organisation adopted the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention in Geneva. Internet publication URL: www.independentliving.org/docs4/ilo-conv-c159.html

This document is a Recommendation adopted by The General Conference of the International Labour Organisation in Geneva in 1983 and supplements the C159 Convention. The document seeks to set forth new international standards concerning the need to ensure equality of opportunity and treatment to all categories of disabled persons, in both rural and urban areas, for employment and integration into the community. Internet publication URL: www.independentliving.org/docs4/ilo-conv-r168.html

This UN report concerns the Implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, including the implementation of the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities. Internet publication URL: www.independentliving.org/docs4/WPACDP.html

This paper reviews psycho-social and religious factors, professional motivations and political inequalities, that have prevented any widespread adoption of "community-based rehabilitation" by Asian governments. Internet publication URL: www.independentliving.org/miles_m1982why_asia_rejects_western_disability_advice

In this early article, Bruce Curtis, of the Technical Assistance Project, Center for Independent Living in Berkeley, California, traces the history of forced dependency and institutionalization which has and often continues to be the lot of disabled persons. Basic denial of disabled people’s human and civil rights led to the 1972 establishment of the Center for Independent Living in 1972 in Berkeley – a rights advocacy and service organization developed by and for disabled people. Curtis outlines the various components of the center’s activities. Internet publication URL: www.independentliving.org/docs1/curtisbneed.html

Sheldon Berrol notes that the success of the independent living movement, in contrast to a rehabilitation or medical approach to disability, is due to the creation and nurturing of the movement by the disabled community. The role of the able bodied professional working with disabled people is to provide services, be active advocates, share skills, and provide training while allowing the direction of the Independent Living Program to come from within the disabled community. Internet publication URL: www.independentliving.org/docs1/berrol.html.

CIL's roots can be traced to 1962 and the Cowell Residence Program at University of California, Berkeley where Ed Roberts struggled with bureaucrats. Internet publication URL: www.independentliving.org/docs3/zukas.html